We provided a service, over the phone to the card holder. The nice card holder had the use of a private jet for several days (about 9 hours flying time).

We charge the card (having taken the precaution of a signed agreement to charge the card, a photocopy of the card, a signed itinerary.)

And on settlement day - Nothing.
Of course, we had to pay. So we started the dispute dance....

Long story short, I don't think even the merchant team knows what is going on. They say I lost the dispute, despite their online system saying we won the dispute.

But, more importantly, we show a $44,480 credit, a $44,480 debit, and then another $44,480 credit online. However, AMEX says they side with the cardholder, because it was his family on the plane, not him. So he diidn't fly, so he doesn't have to pay.

And as for us - a small family run business - we now face the wrath of the bank because we paid for the plane up front.

Amex - if you read this site - pay us the money that you say you owe us, then say you don't. In the last 10 days I have spent 14 hours on the phone trying to resolve this. All I can say is that you are crooks, and to hell with the little guy. What other proof beyond faxes, copies of the card etc. do I need. It's not my fault the cardmember didn't sign the card, but has been using it for months... I bet if you compare signatures between the contract and the cardmember agreement, you would see they match.

You're never gonna see that money.  I worked for Amex for 10 years before I was turned into a sacrificial lamb and walked (despite the fact that the HR guy (Tushar Das) told me to my face that I wouldn't lose my job.  One of my last responsibilities was to rip off the merchants.  Call it Merchant Services if you want but I was instructed to hold every penny that looked like we might be able to put back in the coffers for the shareholders.  Amex will do whatever they have to to avoid paying their merchants.  They don't care about you.  They never have and never will.  I read recently that Amex's shares dropped 38% and I laughed my ass off!  looks great on them.